ARPANET

Definition

ARPANET, or the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network, was the first operational packet-switching network and a precursor to the modern Internet. Developed in the late 1960s by the U.S. Department of Defense, it allowed multiple computers to communicate on a single network, paving the way for the evolution of data communication technologies that underpin today's Internet.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. ARPANET was officially launched in 1969 and initially connected four university computers, allowing them to share resources and communicate.
2. It utilized packet switching technology, which enabled more efficient use of network resources compared to traditional circuit-switched networks.
3. The network's architecture laid the groundwork for the development of the TCP/IP protocol suite, which became the standard for Internet communications.
4. ARPANET expanded rapidly through the 1970s and 1980s, connecting various academic and research institutions across the United States.
5. The decommissioning of ARPANET in 1990 marked the transition to commercial Internet services, signaling a significant shift in how people accessed information and communicated.

Review Questions

• How did ARPANET contribute to the development of modern data communication technologies?
  • ARPANET played a crucial role in shaping modern data communication by introducing packet switching technology, which allows data to be broken into smaller packets for efficient transmission. This innovation enabled multiple computers to communicate over a shared network and laid the foundation for other networking concepts. The experiments conducted on ARPANET led to improvements in network reliability and speed, ultimately influencing the design of contemporary networking systems that we rely on today.
• What were some key features of ARPANET that distinguished it from previous networking methods?
  • ARPANET distinguished itself from earlier networking methods primarily through its use of packet switching instead of circuit switching. This approach allowed multiple users to share network resources without dedicated connections, maximizing efficiency. Additionally, ARPANET introduced robust routing protocols, enabling data to find multiple paths through the network. These features contributed to ARPANET's success and laid down principles that are still essential in current Internet architecture.
• Evaluate the impact of ARPANET's transition to commercial Internet services on society and technology.
  • The transition from ARPANET to commercial Internet services fundamentally changed society and technology by democratizing access to information and communication. As ARPANET was decommissioned in favor of a public Internet, millions gained access to vast amounts of knowledge and digital connectivity. This shift fostered innovations in various fields such as business, education, and social interaction, leading to the digital revolution we experience today. The legacy of ARPANET continues to influence how we engage with technology and each other on a global scale.

Related terms

Packet Switching: A method of data transmission where messages are broken into smaller packets that are sent independently and reassembled at their destination.

TCP/IP: Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, a suite of communication protocols used to interconnect network devices on the Internet, developed as a standard for ARPANET.

Internet Protocol: A set of rules governing the format of data sent over the Internet or local network, crucial for routing and delivering packets.